Basics of Digital Photography

Move beyond auto mode and gain control of your photographs with step-by-step guidance from Santa Fe Photographic Workshops instructor Rick Allred. Master your camera’s features and join Rick in the field as he reveals how to find flattering light and shoot successfully in shade, harsh sunlight and challenging low light. Learn to use shutter speed and depth of field to maximize detail, minimize distractions and create the best photos possible. Discover the limitless potential of zoom, wide-angle and telephoto lenses and find out how to use a polarizer to make bright colors pop. Discover inspiring ideas for compelling compositions and start taking photographs you’re proud to share.

Lesson plan

20:25

Lesson 1. Get to Know Your Camera

Meet your instructor, Rick Allred, as he guides you through the features, settings and menus of digital SLRs. Learn when and how to adjust settings such as white balance, metering modes, exposure compensation and focus modes. Start taking control of the many options available on your DSLR.

15:16

Lesson 2. Light & Exposure

Rick demystifies the exposure triangle by detailing the relationships among shutter speed, aperture and ISO and demonstrating how to adjust your camera settings accordingly. Discover the impact you can make with soft lighting, shadows and directional light from the front, side and back. Rick also will show you a handy tip for avoiding lens flare in this lighting primer.

12:42

Lesson 3. Shutter Speed

Become a master at capturing motion as Rick demonstrates how adjusting the shutter speed allows you to freeze action and create artistic blurs with panning. You also will learn useful tips for avoiding camera shake as Rick shares his suggested shutter speeds for different types of movement. Start taking control of your images!

14:34

Lesson 4. Aperture

Explore the relationship between aperture and depth of field and discover how changing the aperture affects how much of your photo is in focus. Learn how to change the aperture depending on the lighting, such as harsh light and shade. Discover what an f-stop is and how it affects your image’s exposure.

8:55

Lesson 5. ISO

Adjusting your camera’s ISO setting is helpful when you need to increase its sensitivity to light, especially when shooting in low light. See how increasing the ISO changes your photo and can create a mood as Rick discusses the pros and cons of adjusting this setting on your camera.

10:40

Lesson 6. Shooting Modes

Take the final step toward getting off auto and discover how different shooting modes can give you a proper exposure. Learn how to use your camera’s light meter and when and how to override it for even more control.

16:37

Lesson 7. Lenses

Your choice of lens will determine how much of a story you can tell. Rick demonstrates how different lenses and focal lengths affect your background. Understand how wide-angle, prime, zoom, and telephoto lenses can change the depth of your images, and make colors pop by adding a polarizing filter.

8:54

Lesson 8. Composition & Creativity

Mastering the settings on your camera is the first step to taking amazing photos; an understanding of the basic rules of composition is the next. Rick helps you develop your creative eye and gives you assignments to improve your shooting.

20:56

Lesson 9. Putting It All Together

A lot is covered in this class! Rick helps you put the pieces together by walking you through his process of making great photos: seeing the light, framing the shot and adjusting the camera settings. Finally, he'll offer tips for media management, reformatting your memory card and editing your shots.

"This class is excellent. It shows a lot of cool things for beginners and intermediate photographers. If you want to learn about aperture, shutter speed, ISO, depth of field, etc., this is it. A lot of examples and an easy-to-learn class." - Matt8063

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Lesson 1. Get to Know Your Camera

Meet your instructor, Rick Allred, as he guides you through the features, settings and menus of digital SLRs. Learn when and how to adjust settings such as white balance, metering modes, exposure compensation and focus modes. Start taking control of the many options available on your DSLR.

15:16

Lesson 2. Light & Exposure

Rick demystifies the exposure triangle by detailing the relationships among shutter speed, aperture and ISO and demonstrating how to adjust your camera settings accordingly. Discover the impact you can make with soft lighting, shadows and directional light from the front, side and back. Rick also will show you a handy tip for avoiding lens flare in this lighting primer.

12:42

Lesson 3. Shutter Speed

Become a master at capturing motion as Rick demonstrates how adjusting the shutter speed allows you to freeze action and create artistic blurs with panning. You also will learn useful tips for avoiding camera shake as Rick shares his suggested shutter speeds for different types of movement. Start taking control of your images!

14:34

Lesson 4. Aperture

Explore the relationship between aperture and depth of field and discover how changing the aperture affects how much of your photo is in focus. Learn how to change the aperture depending on the lighting, such as harsh light and shade. Discover what an f-stop is and how it affects your image’s exposure.

8:55

Lesson 5. ISO

Adjusting your camera’s ISO setting is helpful when you need to increase its sensitivity to light, especially when shooting in low light. See how increasing the ISO changes your photo and can create a mood as Rick discusses the pros and cons of adjusting this setting on your camera.

10:40

Lesson 6. Shooting Modes

Take the final step toward getting off auto and discover how different shooting modes can give you a proper exposure. Learn how to use your camera’s light meter and when and how to override it for even more control.

16:37

Lesson 7. Lenses

Your choice of lens will determine how much of a story you can tell. Rick demonstrates how different lenses and focal lengths affect your background. Understand how wide-angle, prime, zoom, and telephoto lenses can change the depth of your images, and make colors pop by adding a polarizing filter.

8:54

Lesson 8. Composition & Creativity

Mastering the settings on your camera is the first step to taking amazing photos; an understanding of the basic rules of composition is the next. Rick helps you develop your creative eye and gives you assignments to improve your shooting.

20:56

Lesson 9. Putting It All Together

A lot is covered in this class! Rick helps you put the pieces together by walking you through his process of making great photos: seeing the light, framing the shot and adjusting the camera settings. Finally, he'll offer tips for media management, reformatting your memory card and editing your shots.

The instructor

Rick Allred, Instructor of Basics of Digital Photography

Rick Allred studied photojournalism at New Mexico State University and in 1996 helped to launch the digital program at Santa Fe Photographic Workshops in New Mexico. He spent five years as the head of the photography department at the Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center on the island of Maui, Hawaii, before returning to Santa Fe to continue teaching. Now in his 11th year of workshops, he is as inspired as ever by photography.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(108 reviews)

Reviewing The Basics

by susanc7340394 on March 28, 2015

I have been an avid amateur photographer for years, but it is always good to go back and brush up on the foundation. I really appreciate the fact that the instructor lays out the information in both Nikon terms but also for Canon users. I have only completed lesson one but an impressed so far.

I have been an avid amateur photographer for years, but it is always good to go back and brush up on the foundation. I really appreciate the fact that the instructor lays out the information in both Nikon terms but also for Canon users. I have only completed lesson one but an impressed so far.

So helpful for a newbie

by loopybiker on March 26, 2015

I learned so much from this class. I've watched sections over and over again to help me learn my camera's functions and get better at taking great shots.

I learned so much from this class. I've watched sections over and over again to help me learn my camera's functions and get better at taking great shots.

Excellent

by tishafris6827494 on March 25, 2015

Love this class!

Love this class!

Easy To Follow

by Naomy on March 15, 2015

The app is great. I love taking notes and being sent back to the same spot where I took the notes. I wish he would not assume all nikons are the same because I have a D3200 and it does not have the bottoms he has in his camera. At least not on the outside. I also wished he would had been more detailed on the focusing explanation. How to get both the apple and the bowl in focus. Other than that, great class. I would recommend it.

The app is great. I love taking notes and being sent back to the same spot where I took the notes. I wish he would not assume all nikons are the same because I have a D3200 and it does not have the bottoms he has in his camera. At least not on the outside. I also wished he would had been more detailed on the focusing explanation. How to get both the apple and the bowl in focus. Other than that, great class. I would recommend it.

Better control

by deannadeny103434 on March 15, 2015

This class has helped me understand my camera and put me on the path to taking better pictures. Before this class I would push a few buttons, turn a dial and say a prayer. Now I have much more control over the outcome of my photos.

This class has helped me understand my camera and put me on the path to taking better pictures. Before this class I would push a few buttons, turn a dial and say a prayer. Now I have much more control over the outcome of my photos.

Yes! Rick not only explains how DSLR cameras work but also demonstrates all of the basic settings found on these cameras! Learn how to manually adjust your settings for maximum control and pick up numerous composition tips along the way!